Testing

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An ILO code of practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work

–be able to counsel workers to identify and reduce risk factors in their personal lives;

–be able to refer workers to in-house medical services or those outside the workplace

which can effectively respond to their needs.

7.5. Training for factory/labour inspectors

The competent authority should ensure that factory and labour inspectors have suf-

ficient means at their disposal to fulfil their supervisory, enforcement and advisory func-

tions, in particular regarding HIV/AIDS prevention in enterprises. To achieve this, they

should receive specialized training on HIV/AIDS prevention and protection strategies at

the workplace. This training should include:

–information on relevant international labour standards, especially the Discrimination

(Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), and national laws and

regulations;

–how to provide awareness about HIV/AIDS to workers and management;

–how to incorporate HIV/AIDS topics into their regular occupational safety and

health briefings and workplace training;

–how to assist workers to access available benefits (such as how to complete benefit

forms) and to exercise other legal rights;

–how to identify violations, or the lack of implementation of, workers’ rights in

respect of HIV status;

–skills to collect and analyse data relating to HIV/AIDS in workplaces when this is for

epidemiological or social impact studies and in conformity with this code.

7.6. Training for workers who come into contact with human blood and other body fluids

All workers should receive training about infection control procedures in the context

of workplace accidents and first aid. The programmes should provide training:

–in the provision of first aid;

–about Universal Precautions to reduce the risk of exposure to human blood and

other body fluids ( see Appendix II);

–in the use of protective equipment;

–in the correct procedures to be followed in the event of exposure to human blood

or body fluids;

–rights to compensation in the event of an occupational incident,

and emphasize that the taking of precautions is not necessarily related to the per-

ceived or actual HIV status of individuals.

8. Testing

Testing for HIV should not be carried out at the workplace exce pt as specified in this

code. It is unnecessary and imperils the human rights and dignity of workers: test results

may be revealed and misused, and the informed consent of workers may not always be

fully free or based on an appreciation of all the facts and implications of testing. Even

outside the workplace, confidential testing for HIV should be the consequence of volun-

tary informed consent and performed by suitably qualified personnel only, in conditions

of the strictest confidentiality.